Well tool actuating device



June 19, 1956 J. A. MOOSMAN WELL TOOL ACTUA'IING DEVICE Filed March 29, 1954 IIII"llIIunIIllIiu"Nmlmllmmnlllmlllilmlmlllm INVENTOR. .MCA ,4 Moos/WM United States Patent 6 WELL TOOL ACTUATING DEVICE Jack A. Moosman, Glendale, Calif., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Johnston Testers, Inc., Houston, Tex., a corporation of Texas Application March 29, 1954, Serial No. 419,413

7 Claims. (Cl. 166-237) This application relates to a well tool actuating device, and more particularly to a device for moving an inner member longitudinally relative to an outer member in response to rotation of the well string.

The actuator disclosed herein is adaptable for use with many types of well tools, where relative longitudinal movement between two members is required; for example, setting the slips of a tubing anchor, setting a packer, or operating a valve in a testing device.

It is the principal object of this invention to provide a well tool actuator wherein rotational movement of the Well string is transposed into longitudinal movement of a mandrel relative to a housing.

A further object of this invention is to provide a tool capable of transposing rotational movement of a well string into longitudinal movement of a mandrel relative to a housing, wherein the mandrel may be locked against further longitudinal movement in any adjusted position thereof.

Various other objects of the invention will become apparent in reading the following detailed specification in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a sectional view of the upper end of a well tool actuating device embodying the principles of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a continuation of Fig. 1 and shows the lower portion of the tool.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Referring now to the drawings, there is disclosed a tool comprising a sub 11 adapted to be connected to the lower end of the well string (not shown) by means of the threaded box 12 at the upper end thereof. Threaded into the lower end of the sub 11 is a mandrel 13 having an enlarged lower portion 14. A housing, generally indi catedat 15, comprising an upper section 16, an intermediate section 17 and a lower section 18, is slidably and rotatably mounted on the mandrel 13 with the enlarged portion 14 of the mandrel received within an enlarged central bore forming a recess 19 in the center section of the housing.

A packing gland 20 is inserted in the upper housing section 16 for sealing engagement with the mandrel 13 and is held in place by a packing retaining member 21 threaded into the upper end of the upper housing section 16. mandrel 13 above the upper end of the upper housing section 16 and is held in place thereon by means of tangential bolts 23. A thrust bearing 24 is slidably mounted on the mandrel 13 and bears against the upper end of the split sleeve 22. A spring 25 surrounds the mandrel. 13

above the thrust bearing 24, the lower end of the springbeing in abutting relation with the upper end of the thrust bearing 24 and the upper end of the springabutting a threaded collar 26 threaded onto external threads on the lower end of thesub 11, The spring 25 normally urges the mandrel upwardly relative to the housing to bring the upper end of the enlarged portion 14 into abutting relation with the lower end of the upper housing section 16. A sleeve 27 is slidably mounted on the mandrel 13 between the upper face of the thrust bearing 24 and the lower end of the sub 11, said sleeve being inside of the convolutions of the spring 25. The sleeve 27 is somewhat shorter than the space between the upper end of the thrust bearing 24 and the lower end of the sub 11, when the mandrel is in its uppermost position and is adapted to abut against said faces to limit the downward movement of the mandrel relative to the housing.

A pair of lugs 28 project inwardly from the inner surface of the central housing section 17 adjacent the upper end thereof, and are adapted to be received within grooves 29 formed in the outer surface of the enlarged portion 14 of the mandrel 13 adjacent the upper end thereof to prevent relative rotational movement between the mandrel 13 and the housing 15 when the mandrel is in its uppermost position relative to said housing. A lower tubular mandrel 30 is mounted in said housing with the upper end thereof received telescopically within the lower end of the mandrel 13.

The lower portion 14 of the upper mandrel 13 has formed internally thereof two longitudinally extending grooves 31a which slidably receive keys 31 mounted on the outer surface of the inner mandrel 30, thereby preventing relative rotational movement between the mandrels 30 and 13 but permitting longitudinal movement therebetween. The lower end of the mandrel 30 is enlarged externally, as shown at 32, and the external surface of said enlarged portion 32 is provided with external threads 33 which are intcrengaged with internal threads 34 formed on the internal surface of the lower housing section 18. A lower mandrel extension section 35 is screwed into the lower mandrel 30 and is adapted to be attached at its lower end to the appropriate portion of the tool to be actuated. Similarly, the lower end of the lower housing section 18 is threaded in the manner shown at 36 for engagement with the appropriate portion of I the tool to be actuated.

A split sleeve 22 is slidably mounted on the sealing engagament with the internal surface thereof be low the lower end of the upper mandrel 13. The inner surface of said floating piston 38 is in sliding engagement with the external surface of the lower mandrel 30. An O-ring seal 39 is mounted in the external surface of the piston 38 to prevent any fluid from passing upwardly between the piston and the housing. Similarly, an O-ring seal 40 is mounted on the interior surface of-the piston 38 and is in sealing engagement with the lower mandrel- 30. A plurality of ports 41 are provided in the housing section 17 adjacent the lower end thereof, thus permit ting the well fluid to fill the space below the piston 38. The piston 38 is permitted to travel freely upwardly and downwardly between the members 30 and 17 to accom modate varying volumes between said members above said piston and to equalize the pressures within and with out the housing section 17, and prevent the collapsing of the walls thereof. The pressure of the fluid entering ports 41 acts downwardly on the upper end of housing section 18 and hydrostatically balances the housing to prevent the housing from floating upwardly relative tornanf drel 13 and releasing the lock therebetween.-

In order; to prevent-the wellfluid below the piston-38 from traveling downwardly between the housing section 18 and the mandrel 30, an O-ring seal 42 is mounted on the internal surface of the housing section 18 and is in sealing engagement with the exterior surface of the lower mandrel 30.

The operation of the device is as follows: The parts are assembled in 'the position shown in the drawings and the lower end of the housing section is threadedly secured to the upper end of the tool to be actuated; for example, the body of a packer. The lower end of the mandrel extension 35 is threadedly secured such as to the operating mandrel of a packer. The upper end of the sub 12 is threadedly secured to the lower end of a well string and the device is lowered into the well. When the tail pipe below the packer reaches the lower end of the well bore, .further lowering of the well string will move the mandrel 13 downwardly relative to the housing id in order to disengage the lugs 28 from the grooves 29.. Flo tation of the well string will then cause the mandrel 13 to rotate relative to the housing .15 and, through the key and slot connection, the mandrel 13 will rotate the mandrel 30 relative to the housing section 18. Due to the threaded connection 34, the lower mandrel 3i and the mandrel extension 35 will be moved downwardly or upwardly relative to the housing, depending upon the direction of rotation, and thus move the packer mandrel rela tive to the body in order to set the packer. When the desired degree of relative longitudinal movement has been obtained, the well string is again lifted sufiic'iently to raise the mandrel 13 relative to the housing 15 and reengage the lugs 28 within the slots 29 and prevent further rotation of the mandrel 13 relative to the housing 15, thus locking the lower mandrel 30 and mandrel extension '35 in their adjusted positions relative to the housing 15.

While I have shown a preferred form of my invention, it is to be understood that various changes may be made in its construction by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A well tool actuating device comprising a tubular housing adapted to be connected at its lower end to a well tool and having an enlarged internal recess intermediate its ends, an upper tubular mandrel adapted to be connected at its upper end to a well string and having a portion of enlarged external diameter at its lower end rotatably received in said housing recess, said enlarged portion being shorter in axial length than the axial length of said recess thereby permitting limited longitudinal movement of said upper mandrel relative to said housing, a lower mandrel having its upper end slidably but non rotatably received within the upper mandrel, an enlarged external diameter portion on said lower mandrel below said upper mandrel, external threads on the enlarged portion of said lower mandrel, and internal threads on the innersurface of said housing below said enlarged recess interengaged with said external threads, whereby rotation of said upper mandrel relative to said housing will cause longitudinal movement of said lower mandrel relative to said housing.

2. A well tool actuating device comprising a tubular housing adapted to be connected at its lower end to a well tool and having an enlarged internal recess intermediate its ends, an upper tubular mandrel adapted to be connected at its upper end to a well string and having a portion of enlarged external diameter at its lower end rotatably received in said housing recess, said enlarged portion being shorter in axial length than the axial length of said recess thereby permitting limited longitudinal movement of said upper mandrel relative to said housing, a lower mandrel having its upper end slidably but nonrotatably received within the upper mandrel, an enlarged external diameter portion on said lower mandrel below said upper mandrel, external threads on said enlarged portion, internal threads on the inner surface of said housing below said enlarged recess interengaged with the external threads of said lower mandrel, whereby rotation of said upper mandrel relative to said housing will cause longitudinal movement of said lower mandrel relative to said housing, and releasable means for preventing relative rotation of said upper mandrel relative to said housing when said upper mandrel is in its uppermost position relative to said housing.

3. A well tool actuating device comprising a tubular housing adapted to be connected at its lower end to a well tool and having an enlarged internal recess intermediate its ends, an upper tubular mandrel adapted to be connected at its upper end to a well string and having a portion of enlarged external diameter .at its lower end rotatably received in said housing recess, said enlarged portion being shorter in axial length than the axial length of said recess thereby permitting limited longitudinal movement of said upper mandrel relative to said housing, a lower mandrel having its upper end slidably but non rotatably received within the upper mandrel, an enlarged external diameter portion on said lower mandrel below said upper mandrel, external threads on the enlarged portion of said lower mandrel, internal threads on the inner surface of said housing below said enlarged recess interengaged with said external threads, whereby rotation of said upper mandrel relative to said housing will cause longitudinal movement of said lower mandrel relative to said housing, releasable means for preventing relative rotation of said upper mandrel relative to said housing when said upper mandrel is in its uppermost position relative to said housing, and spring means for biasing said upper mandrel upwardly relatively to said housing.

4. A well tool actuating device comprising .a tubular housing adapted to be connected at its lower end to a well tool and having an enlarged internal recess intermediate its ends, an upper tubular mandrel adapted to be connected at its upper end to a well string and having a portion of enlarged external diameter at its lower end rotatably received in said housing recess, said enlarged portion being shorter in axial length than the axial length of said recess thereby permitting limited longitudinal movement of said upper mandrel relative to said housing, a lower mandrel having its upper end slidably but nor.- rotatably received within the upper mandrel, .an enlarged external diameter portion on said lower mandrel below said upper mandrel, external threads on the enlarged portion of said lower mandrel, internal threads on the inner surface of said housing below said enlarged recess interengaged with said external threads, whereby rotation of said upper mandrel relative to said housing will cause longitudinal movement of said lower mandrel relative .to said housing, and means on said enlarged portion of the upper mandrel and on said housing adapted to interengage and prevent relative rotation between said upper mandrel .and said housing when said upper mandrel is in its uppermost position relative to said housing.

5. A well tool actuating device comprising a tubular housing adapted to be connected at its lower end to a well tool and having an enlarged internal recess intermediate its ends, an upper tubular mandrel adapted to be connected at its upper end to a well string and having a portion of enlarged external diameter at its lower end rotatably received in said housing recess, said enlarged portion being shorter in axial length than .the axial length of said recess thereby permitting limited longitudinal movement of said upper mandrel relative :to said housing, a lower mandrel having its upper end slidably but nonrotatably received within the upper mandrel, an enlarged external diameter portion on said lower mandrel below said upper mandrel, external threads on the enlarged portion of said lower mandrel, internal threads on the inner surface of said housing below said enlarged recess inter-engaged with said external threads, whereby -ro tation of said upper mandrel relative to said housing will cause longitudinal movement of said lower mandrel relative to said housing, means on said enlarged portion of the mandrel and on said housing adapted to interengage and prevent relative rotation between said upper mandrel and said housing when said upper mandrel is in its uppermost position relative to said housing, and spring means for biasing said upper mandrel upwardly relative to said housing.

6. A well tool actuating device comprising a tubular housing adapted to be connected at its lower end to a well tool and having an enlarged internal recess intermediate its ends, an upper tubular mandrel adapted to be connected at its upper end to a well string and having a portion of enlarged external diameter at its lower end rotatably received in said housing recess, said enlarged portion being shorter in axial length than the axial length of said recess thereby permitting limited longitudinal movement of said upper mandrel relative to said housing, a lower mandrel having its upper end slidably but non-rotatably received within the upper mandrel, an enlarged external diameter portion on said lower mandrel below said upper mandrel, external threads on the enlarged portion of the lower mandrel, internal threads on the inner surface of said housing below said enlarged recess interengaged with said external threads, whereby rotation of said upper mandrel relative to said housing will cause longitudinal movement of said lower mandrel relative to said housing, releasable latch means comprising slots in the upper end of the enlarged portion of the upper mandrel, and lugs in said housing projecting into said recess adjacent the upper end thereof and adapted to be received in said slots to prevent relative rotation between said upper mandrel and housing when said upper mandrel is in its uppermost position relative to said housing.

7. A well tool actuating device comprising a tubular housing adapted to be connected at its lower end to a well tool and having an enlarged internal recess intermediate its ends, an upper tubular mandrel adapted to be connected at its upper end to a well string and having a portion of enlarged external diameter at its lower end rotatably received in said housing recess, said enlarged portion being shorter in axial length than the axial length of said recess thereby permitting limited longitudinal movement of said upper mandrel relative to said housing, a lower mandrel having its upper end slidably but nonrotatably received within the upper mandrel, an enlarged external diameter portion on said lower mandrel below said upper mandrel, external threads on the enlarged portion of the lower mandrel, and internal threads on the inner surface of said housing below said enlarged recess interengaged with said external threads, whereby rotation of said upper mandrel relative to said housing will cause longitudinal movement of said lower mandrel relative to said housing, releasable latch means comprising slots in the upper end of the enlarged portion of the upper mandrel, lugs in said housing projecting into said recess adjacent the upper end thereof and adapted to be received in said slots to prevent relative rotation between said upper mandrel and housing when said upper mandrel is in its uppermost position relative to said housing, and spring means for biasing said upper mandrel upwardly relative to said housing.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,657,895 Huber et a1 Nov. 3, 1953 2,667,927 Johnston Feb. 2, 1954 2,671,509 Johnston Mar. 9, 1954 

1. A WELL TOOL ACTUATING DEVICE COMPRISING A TUBULAR HOUSING ADAPTED TO BE CONNECTED AT ITS LOWER END TO A WELL TOOL AND HAVING AN ENLARGED INTERNAL RECESS INTERMEDIATE ITS ENDS, AN UPPER TUBULAR MANDREL ADAPTED TO BE CONNECTED AT ITS UPPER END TO A WELL STRING AND HAVING A PORTION OF ENLARGED EXTERNAL DIAMETER AT ITS LOWER END ROTATABLY RECEIVED IN SAID HOUSING RECESS, SAID ENLARGED PORTION BEING SHORTER IN AXIAL LENGHT THAN THE AXIAL LENGTH OF SAID RECESS THEREBY PERMITTING LIMITED LONGITUDINAL MOVEMENT OF SAID UPPER MANDREL RELATIVE TO SAID HOUSING, A LOWER MANDERL HAVING ITS UPPER END SLIDABLY BUT NONROTATABLY RECEIVED WITHIN THE UPPER MANDREL, AN ENLARGED EXTERNAL DIAMETER PORTION ON SAID OWER MANDREL BELOW SAID UPPER MANDREL, EXTERNAL THREADS ON THE ENLARGED POR- 